PRINCESS ZELDA

is a fictional character in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series of video games. She is a member of Hyrule's royal family and plays an integral role in the history of Hyrule. Though she is the eponymous character, the player takes control of the hero, Link. Usually, Zelda is in some way kidnapped or imprisoned by Ganon, also known as Ganondorf. In some games she appears as one of the sages (wise men and women). In later games she has been shown to be some kind of prophet. In '' and '' she displays other magical powers, such as powerful attacks and force fields. Creator Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that her name was inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.^[1]

Attributes

Much like Link, Zelda has had multiple incarnations throughout the series. Generally close to Link in age, she is most often portrayed as a child, but has appeared as an adult in '', '' and ''. She is usually portrayed as a girl or young woman with blonde hair, a notable exception to this being in the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' where her hair is the same shade of brown as Link's. She often wears a dress of pale pink (sometimes with a royal crest), and jewelry including the ornate earrings which are a traditional Hylian accessory.
Associated with the Goddess Nayru and the Triforce of Wisdom, Zelda is possessed of supremely good judgment in most cases, although this does not always aid her in avoiding capture. Most iterations of Zelda are also gifted with psychic or magical powers, such as telepathy and precognition. Princess Zelda character analysis ''Internal.tbi.net''. URL Accessed April 29, 2006. At her most powerful, Zelda can cast spells and create or undo barriers and seals; her alter egos also have abilities of their own.
Zelda is depicted as a right-handed person, except in the Wii version of '', although this is because the game was completely flipped in order to make Link right-handed.

Incarnations of Zelda

Princess Zelda appears in most ''The Legend of Zelda'' games, often as a central focus of Link's quests, which is most likely the reason the series' title is attributed to her. To date, she has appeared in some form in each game, the only exceptions being '', in which she is just briefly mentioned, and '', where she is only shown in a flashback.

''The Legend of Zelda''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda

Princess Zelda's character design in the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', taken from a promotional flyer.

Zelda is kidnapped by Ganon, who hides her in his lair on Death Mountain. Before she was kidnapped, she shattered the Triforce of Wisdom into eight pieces and had them scattered throughout Hyrule to hide them from Ganon, then sent her nursemaid Impa in search of a hero. Zelda is not actually seen in this game until after Ganon is defeated. Like several character sprites in the game, her dress color reflects the tunic color Link is wearing.

''The Adventure of Link''

Impa shows Link Zelda as she sleeps on an altar in North Castle.

Main articles: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

In the sequel to ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''The Adventure of Link'', Link must rescue the original Princess Zelda from long ago. According to the backstory, the power of the Triforce had belonged to one man alone, a great king of Hyrule. When he died, the artifact was divided, and the heir to the throne could inherit only part of it. Before his death, the king had told only the prince’s younger sister, Zelda, where the missing parts of the Triforce could be found. The princess would not give away her precious secret, even under threats from the prince and one of his counselors, an evil magician. In his anger, the magician put a powerful sleeping curse on the princess, despite the objections of the prince. The spell was successful, but the magician died in exhaustion after its casting. The devastated prince ordered that every female born into the royal family would be named Zelda in memory of the tragedy. Princess Zelda was placed in the North Palace and lay there for untold ages until Link (on his sixteenth birthday, years after the events of the original ''The Legend of Zelda'') learned of her fate and set out to break the curse.

''A Link to the Past''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Princess Zelda, as seen in ''A Link to the Past''.

Princess Zelda is one of the seven maidens descended from the sages who sealed Ganon away during the Imprisoning War. At the beginning of the game, she is imprisoned in the dungeon of Hyrule Castle by Agahnim, who plans on sacrificing her along with the other six maidens in order to break the seal between the Light and Dark World. This would free Agahnim's alter ego, Ganon, from the Dark World and allow him to wreak havoc on Hyrule. Zelda telepathically calls for help, contacting Link's uncle and then Link himself. Link rescues Zelda and takes her into the Sanctuary, where she remains, safe, for part of the game. After Link retrieves the Master Sword from the Lost Woods, Zelda is kidnapped by Agahnim’s henchmen and sent to the dark world in his final ritual, breaking the seal. She is not seen again until she is rescued by Link from Turtle Rock (the seventh dungeon in the Dark World). Saving her and the other six maidens opens the entrance to Ganon's Tower, the final dungeon of the game.
In the GBA remake of ''A Link to the Past'', Zelda's design has been modified to be more in line with her appearance in the other games.

''Ocarina of Time''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Young Princess Zelda

Zelda is the Princess of Hyrule, and later becomes the Seventh Sage and holder of the Triforce of Wisdom. Her destiny is tied with Link, possessor of the Triforce of Courage, and Ganondorf, possessor of the Triforce of Power. Zelda, the true heir to the royal family, is of the Hylian race. She begins the game as a young girl blessed with prophetic abilities. In a dream of symbolic importance, she senses Ganondorf's treachery and predicts Link’s arrival before either occurs. When Link meets her for the first time in Hyrule Castle Courtyard, she sends him on a quest to collect the three Spiritual Stones and protect the Triforce from Ganondorf. When Ganondorf attacks Hyrule Castle, Zelda and her attendant Impa, a Sheikah, flee the castle on horseback. The princess throws the Ocarina of Time into the moat for Link to retrieve. When Link returns seven years later, he encounters a disguised Zelda, who gives her name as "Sheik, the survivor of the Sheikah". In this guise, Zelda gives Link clues to the locations of the various temples and teaches him special songs that enable him to warp to them. After all six sages are rescued, Zelda reveals herself to Link, and explains that she is the seventh sage and that both she and Link hold pieces of the Triforce. She then gives him the magical Light Arrows, but is immediately captured by Ganondorf and imprisoned in a pink crystal at the top of his tower. After Link defeats Ganondorf, Zelda is freed, and she assists Link in escaping the collapsing fortress. After the tower is destroyed, Ganondorf uses the Triforce of Power to revive as Ganon. Once he is weakened by Link, Zelda uses her magic to hold him in place while Link finishes him, and then she and the other sages banish him to the Sacred Realm. Afterwards, Zelda uses the Ocarina of Time to return Link to his childhood, to "regain [his] lost years."

''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages

Zelda, as seen in the ''Oracle'' games.

Impa tells Link she has been sent by Zelda to guard Din, the Oracle of Seasons, and Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, and escort them back to Hyrule. The plans go awry when the Oracles are kidnapped, and partway through the second game Zelda has a disturbing vision and comes to find Link. She is briefly captured, but Link rescues her. Once both games have been completed, Twinrova kidnaps her in a plan to sacrifice her to revive Ganon. They ultimately fail and are defeated by Link, who rescues the captive Princess. The castle begins to crumble, but they are rescued by the Maku Tree.

''Four Swords''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords

In the beginning of the game, Zelda goes to the Sanctuary of the Four Swords with her friend Link, to check on the seal containing the Wind Mage, Vaati. The seal has weakened, however, allowing Vaati to escape. He then kidnaps Zelda and takes her away to his palace where he intends to force marriage upon the princess. Drawing the Four Sword from its resting place, Link journeys to rescue Zelda and reseal the Wind Mage.

''The Wind Waker''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Zelda, as seen in ''The Wind Waker''.

A pretty and adventurous young girl named Tetra leads her band of pirates across the Great Sea in search of a legendary treasure, the Triforce, hidden beneath the waves. Her destiny becomes entwined with Link's, and, eventually, a possessed, talking boat, , in reality the ancient king of the old kingdom of Hyrule, Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, explains that Tetra is actually Princess Zelda. During the final battle, Zelda helps by slowing down Ganondorf with the Light Arrows she borrows from Link. This is the second time Zelda participates in a battle in the series, and she plays a more active role than she did in ''Ocarina of Time''.

''Four Swords Adventures''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

Worried about the seal on Vaati, Zelda goes with six other mystical maidens to check on the Sanctuary of the Four Sword, with Link accompanying her, only for a dark shadowy copy of Link to attack, and kidnap the maidens and Zelda. Link is forced to draw the Four Sword to fight Dark Link, allowing Vaati to escape. At the end of the game, Zelda helps the four Links fight Dark Link, and after Vaati is dispatched, the five quickly flee the collapsing Tower of Winds. Finally, the Links face Ganon, with Zelda again participating in the battle.
Near the end of the game, Zelda is led by the four Links through swarms of monsters and obstacles in order to escape the collapsing Tower of Winds, mirroring the similar element from ''Ocarina of Time'' where she and Link escape from the collapsing Ganon's Castle. However, in this game, Zelda has a four piece heart meter which, when depleted, will kill her along with all four Links, requiring the latter to defend her.
In this game, like a few others, Link is referred to as Zelda's "childhood friend".

''The Minish Cap''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Princess Zelda is the daughter of Hyrule’s King Daltus. She and Link are good friends, as Link's grandfather is Hyrule's Master Smith. One day, Zelda gets Link to take her to the Picori Festival in Hyrule Town. During the ceremony following the festival's swordfighting tournament, she is turned into stone by the winner, Vaati. Vaati is an evil mage searching for a legendary Light Force, and knowing Zelda has mystical powers of her own, he wants to keep her out of the way. Later, discovering that her power ''is'' the Light Force, Vaati invades the castle and kidnaps the petrified princess, planning to sacrifice her and become a god. When Link defeats Vaati, Zelda uses the Light Force to heal the damage that Vaati caused to Hyrule.

''Twilight Princess''

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Zelda was the young ruler of Hyrule until its invasion by , the Twilight King, when she surrendered to him upon his prompt of "Life? Or death?!" in an effort to protect her people. From then on, she is imprisoned inside a tower in Hyrule Castle, although she does not become a spirit under the influence of the Twilight King's magic like her people (likely because she possesses the Triforce of Wisdom, and thus, the essence of the goddess Nayru). It is here that she meets Link, transformed into a wolf by the Twilight Realm's power. Later, she apparently gives up this power, and her physical form, to aid a purified and dying . Zelda regains her body later, only to be possessed by Ganondorf, but his influence is purged from her body by Midna. Ganondorf makes another attempt on Zelda's life soon after, but she is protected by the Light Spirits of Hyrule, who grant her the Light Arrows to assist Link in part of his final battle. The last time she is seen in the game is when she and Link say good-bye to Midna at the Mirror of Twilight. Zelda in ''Twilight Princess'' is the matriarch of Hyrule for the first time, although she retains her title of "Princess". Other incarnations of Zelda have featured her as the daughter and possible heir to the king of Hyrule, as opposed to the land's ruler.
Zelda in ''Twilight Princess'' takes more of a supporting role than in previous games. In most other ''Legend of Zelda'' games, she is always the focus of the plot and the ultimate aim of the games has been to rescue her or perform some other task directly related to her. In ''Twilight Princess'', the character of seems to take over much of Zelda's role in previous games, the ultimate goal of the game being set by her and interaction between her and Link being a major point of focus, whereas Link and Zelda only meet on three separate occasions, and twice while Link is in his wolf form. Because a close relationship between Link and Zelda has always been a central focus in games in the franchise, their limited interaction in Twilight Princess is one of a number of departures of the series in the game.

Zelda's alter egos

Sheik

''.]]
Sheik is a character in ''Ocarina of Time'', and is an alter ego of Zelda. In the game, Zelda passes herself off as a Sheikah known as Sheik. With voice muffled and face concealed, wearing a form-fitting blue suit with the red Sheikah eye in the center, the character is essentially unrecognizable as Zelda. ''The Legend of Zelda'' database - letter S ''Zelda.com''. URL Accessed April 30, 2006. The transformation is helped by the fact that the game had no proper voice acting, and thus players had no reason to associate Sheik’s voice with Zelda’s.
Sheik plays the harp and teaches Link new songs to help him on his quest. When Link arrives at the Temple of Time near the end of the game, Sheik uses the Triforce of Wisdom and reverts to Zelda. It is assumed, in this case, that she uses her magical skills (as a Sage) to change her skin tone, hair length, eye color, etc. This is all supported by the Sheik trophy in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. It is presumed she changes her voice as well as her build and her clothing; in addition, a female voice actor is heard when in pain in both Ocarina and ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', adding to the belief that she may have imitated a deep voice as Sheik. When Link encounters in the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time she asks Link to thank Sheik for saving her and refers to Sheik as "him". It is unknown, however, if Ruto was actually aware of Sheik's dual-identity.
The game is unclear about the true nature and origin of Sheik. One of the Gossip Stones scattered around Hyrule in ''Ocarina of Time'' describes her royal highness as a tomboy. Zelda herself apologizes for "meeting Link in disguise," which could either refer to her changing into the form of a man or simply changing clothes.
''.]]

Tetra

'Tetra' is a sarcastic pirate who (reluctantly) starts Link out on his journey.
Her mother died few years before the events of ''The Wind Waker'', and she was left to lead the group of pirates (the only ones actually appearing in the game).
She is the character that Ganon meant for the Helmaroc King to kidnap, instead of . Their similar pointy ears caused the mistake.
She periodically helps Link out during his quest, and later her true identity is revealed in Hyrule Castle: she is Princess Zelda, the last heiress in the Hylian Royal Family bloodline. Before this, Tetra did not know she was Zelda, yet knew of Hyrule, the Hero of Time, the Master Sword, and wore a large piece of the Triforce of Wisdom around her neck as a necklace.
Tetra also appears in the Japan-only ''Tetra's Trackers'' game, part of ''Four Swords Adventures'', as well as in ''The Wind Waker's sequel, ''.

Relationships with other characters

Link

There are implications of a romantic relationship between Link and Zelda. Support for this is provided by hints in some of the games, interviews with the game creators, the cartoons, and the comics/.
''.|400px]]
One hint of a romance between the two is given at the end of ''The Adventure of Link'', when the awakened princess apparently kisses Link under the falling curtain.
If the ''Oracle'' games are played as sequels to each other, the ultimate ending sequence shows Zelda lightly kissing Link on the cheek, causing him to swoon as hearts float above his head.
In manga, such as those of '', Link and Zelda are shown to have a much more obvious romantic relationship than what is seen in the video games. An example of this is the scene where, Zelda kisses Link during the childhood chapters causing Link to react with excitement, and the scene before Ganondorf captures Zelda in the adult chapters, there is a quickly interrupted moment of tenderness between the two. Also, on the last page, when Link goes to meet Zelda at the castle courtyard, she cries out with joy when she sees him. Dialogue within the manga and Link's inability to stop thinking about Zelda throughout the manga provides more evidence of a romantic relationship. An example of this romance in other manga is the official The Legend of Zelda: The Four Swords manga. At the end of the Four swords manga, Link and Zelda are shown holding hands together, which may give a hint of a future romantic relationship.
The game creators also seem to imply there is a romance between the characters. Eiji Aonuma comments on it in this interview:^[2]
:'Interviewer:' ''We have received several emails in which our readers ask: Will Zelda and Link ever be involved [romantically]? [laughs] I'm sorry, but we had to ask.''
:'Aonuma:' ''[laughs] Good question. Well, as you already know, we are now dealing with a teenage Link, and as you know, teenagers are very emotional beings, so there are definitely possibilities of seeing Link showing his feelings towards the princess. But honestly, we don’t know what the future holds.''
In another interview Mr. Aonuma answers another question about this relationship in ''Twilight Princess''.
:'Interviewer:' ''Will we see a charming and affectionate romance [between Link and] the princess?''
:'Aonuma:' ''Well, we're creating an adolescent storyline and we try to present it how it should be; in fact, if you played it – or will play it – you’ll notice that the way Link holds the sword is much cooler than how he used to do it. Link will now do things in a way that will make him look more confident and liberated. And yes, it's true that teenagers have these relationships -- and we would love if it could happen with the princess – but I can't talk about anything yet.''
A question from an old interview^[3] with Shigeru Miyamoto, conducted by Famimaga 64:
:'Interviewer:' ''Does Link have a girlfriend?''
:'Miyamoto:' ''If it was Princess Zelda, it would be great. However, this time Navi [the fairy] is jealous of Zelda. So within the story, Navi feels something for Link.''

Impa

Main articles: Impa

In several games, Zelda has a nursemaid named Impa, a faithful servant who is largely responsible for raising her and cultivating her abilities. In ''The Legend of Zelda'', Impa is her most trusted servant, the one whom she entrusts with the task of finding a hero to defeat Ganon. In ''The Adventure of Link'', it is Impa who brings Link to the North Castle and recounts the story of the ancient curse on the sleeping Zelda. The Impa from ''Ocarina of Time'' is a survivor of the mysterious Sheikah race. She protects and cares for Zelda, teaching Zelda and Link the royal tune known as Zelda’s Lullaby, and fleeing the castle with Zelda when Ganondorf threatens the princess in an attempt to obtain the Ocarina of Time. Impa then teaches Zelda the ways of the Sheikah, allowing her to hide in plain sight for seven years, awaiting Link’s return. In the end, she rounds out Zelda’s band of sages in her role as the Sage of Shadow. Impa in the ''Oracle'' series is an agent operating in Zelda’s interest, sent to the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna to bring the oracles to safety in Hyrule.

Family

Not much is known about Zelda’s family; they are rarely mentioned or seen in-game. The king and the prince who were related to the cursed Zelda in ''The Adventure of Link'' are never even named, their actions merely provide an explanation for her fate and the Triforce's condition. The return of the king to Hyrule Castle is seen briefly in the ''A Link to the Past'' end sequence. In ''Ocarina of Time'', young Zelda briefly mentions her father, but she never went into great detail, and he never made an appearance.
In ''The Wind Waker'', Tetra's relations include her deceased mother, who was the previous leader of the pirates, and , the ancient King of Hyrule.
In ''The Minish Cap'', she is shown to have a significant relationship with , King of Hyrule and her father. When Zelda is turned to stone, he is desperate to find a way to save her, and asks Link's help in doing so. Link's quest at one point involves getting help from the spirit of another royal ancestor, .

Zelda in other media

Although information is only considered series canon if it comes from the games or instruction booklets (and where there is conflict between the two, the games themselves are the accepted source), or occasionally other Nintendo materials, there are a number of other officially licensed ''Zelda'' stories. Many of these explore the romantic relationship with Link in greater depth than the actual games.

''The Legend of Zelda'' TV series

Main articles: The Legend of Zelda (TV series)

A set of ''Zelda'' cartoons aired on Fridays from 1989-1990 as a part of DiC’s ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show''. The series loosely followed the NES ''Zelda'' games, mixing settings and characters from those games with original creations. Zelda is depicted as a warrior princess with a fiery temper who wears more comfortable and practical garb than the Zelda from the games. In addition to running the kingdom part-time for her father, King Harkinian, she often accompanies Link on his adventures and is quite skilled with a bow. The series exemplifies a romantic relationship between the two protagonists. Link is always begging Zelda for a kiss; however, even when she agrees to indulge him, it never occurs. They are interrupted by monsters, or Sprite (a fairy princess with a crush on Link), or any number of unfortunate circumstances such as something making Zelda so mad she no longer wants to kiss Link. It is directly revealed that Zelda loves Link in one episode, and there is no doubt of their romantic relationship in this series. Thirteen of these cartoons were produced before the cancellation of ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show''. Zelda was voiced by Cyndy Preston in the TV Series.
A slightly altered version of this Zelda (with messier hair and a slightly more revealing version of the same clothing) appeared in assorted episodes of ''.

''The Legend of Zelda'' comic books by Valiant

Featuring characters and settings from the TV series, this comic by Valiant only ran for five issues. Although Zelda’s feelings for Link are made quite clear, there is another element at play here: her duty to the Triforce, which must come before her own needs and desires. When Link is corrupted by the Triforce of Power in one story, this Zelda briefly possesses his Triforce of Courage, which will not reside with one who uses Power without Wisdom.

''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' graphic novel

Created as a serial comic for Nintendo Power magazine by acclaimed manga author Shotaro Ishinomori, and later collected in graphic novel form, this tells an alternate version of the events from ''A Link to the Past''. Zelda calls to Link and he must rescue her, first from Agahnim, and then from imprisonment at Turtle Rock in the Dark World. She is also instrumental in storming Ganon’s floating castle and destroying him. Link and Zelda definitely develop a strong connection, but the relationship is ultimately portrayed as tragic. At the end of the story, Zelda has become Queen, and Link is head of the Royal Guard and the Knights of Hyrule. This success is bittersweet, as their duties keep them apart, even though they were once so close, sharing an adventure and even coming together in dreams.
Stories from several ''Zelda'' games have also been converted to manga format in Japan. These official publications greatly expand parts of each game’s backstory.

Appearances in other games

Zelda is present in a few games outside of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series.
While varying in their regard within the gaming community, none of these games contributes anything to the series which would be considered ''Legend of Zelda'' canon.

''CD-i games''

Zelda as she appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Main articles: CD-i games based on The Legend of Zelda series

Zelda is featured in three games made by a third party for the Phillips CD-i system. In '' she was kidnapped by Ganon again and had to be rescued. In '' (1993) (in which she wore the same outfit as in the animated series) and ''Zelda’s Adventure'' (1994), Princess Zelda was the protagonist (both games involve Link’s kidnapping). Although the games are noteworthy as the first time Zelda has been a playable character, the series is generally immensely criticized by fans and not recognized by Nintendo as canon.

''Super Smash Bros.''

The adult form of Zelda from '' also appears as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. She was first shown in the guise of Sheik, but it was later revealed that Sheik was one of two forms. These forms each have their own unique moves, effectively doubling her repertoire. In the game, both Zelda and Sheik are voiced by Jun Mizusawa.
Zelda has been confirmed to be playable in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' ^[4], although the appearance of her counterpart, Sheik, has yet to be confirmed. Like Link, her character design is more subdued than in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' , and is based on her appearance in ''Twilight Princess''.^[5] In a recent interview with Eiji Aonuma, he said that character models for Sheik, along with Ganondorf, have been "submitted" for possible use in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.^[6].

References

★ The following games and their instruction manuals: ''The Legend of Zelda''; ''; ''; ''; ''; ''; '', and ''; ''; ''; ''; '' and ''.
;Books

★ Nintendo of America. ''Official Nintendo Power the Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask Player’s Guide''. Nintendo of America, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-05-4.

★ Prima Development. ''Super Smash Bros. Melee: Official Strategy Guide''. Prima Games, 2002. ISBN 0-7615-3790-2.
;Notes
1. In the Game: Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto by Todd Mowatt, ''Amazon.com'', last retrieved March 12 2006
2. Eiji Aonuma Interview, ''GameCube Advanced'', published July 22 2004
3. The Z-Files, part IV, ''IGN64'', published December 3 1997
4. Zelda
5. ''Nintendo Power, Vol 219'', 'Brawl Evolves': "The diva of Hyrule will sport a new look in Brawl based on her Twilight Princess duds."
6. Eiji Aonuma Talks DS Development And More

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